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Hostages and flames and explosions, oh my!

But most crucially, the film is sidetracked by its grim fascination with evil, especially as it is personified in Mars (Ben Foster), the most violent of the three young punks. Anyone who has seen Panic Room will figure out pretty early that Mars is to this film what Dwight Yoakam's character was to that one; he is the most cold-blooded and psychotic of the three home invaders, and his partners in crime are fools if they think he feels any special loyalty to them. A fair bit of the film is spent on the sexual overtures that Mars makes to Mr. Smith's teenaged daughter Jennifer (Michelle Horn), who just happened to be arguing with her dad over her somewhat skimpy attire when the boys broke in. And as if that weren't creepy enough, the film kicks into hyperviolent overdrive when Mars writes messages for Jennifer in his own blood, while preparing to flood the house with Molotov cocktails.

By the time Mars stalks down a flame-drenched hallway, ready to throw a few more bombs around, you may wonder if you are still watching the same film that you were an hour ago. Hostage, adapted by Doug Richardson (Welcome to Mooseport) from a novel by TV veteran Robert Crais, is the first English-language film to be directed by Florent Emilio Siri, and like a number of recent American films directed by Frenchmen—Catwoman comes to mind—it revels in a sort of operatic vulgarity. This, in and of itself, is bad enough; but once the story exhausts its over-the-top cheesiness, there are still a few loose ends to tie up, and so the film drags on. For a thriller that started on such a tense, taut note, that's a shame.

Talk About It

1. What would you do in Talley's place, as a police officer who had to choose between saving your own family and saving another? Is your first duty to your family, or to the public you promised to protect and serve? Would it make a difference if you knew that the other family included at least one criminal? Why or why not?
   
   
2. What do you make of Mars's fascination with death? Do films like this merely depict such fascination, or do they also encourage it? Point to specific shots and the way they frame certain acts of violence, or the way they use techniques such as slow-motion, etc.
   
   
3. Why do you think both Talley and one of the criminals make the remarks they do about "rich people"? Is this a sign that Talley has something in common with the three young men who break into the house? What other signs might there be, if any? Does this help us to identify with the criminals, or with Talley? Do you think economic status matters in a case like this?
   
   

The Family Corner

Hostage is rated R for strong graphic violence, language and some drug use. The violence includes shooting, people being hit with Molotov cocktails, and one particularly gruesome stabbing. Mars also gives Jennifer some seriously unwanted sexual attention (blowing smoke into her cleavage, etc.). In addition, a man who kills his family and then himself is overheard praying shortly before he commits his crime.

Photos © Copyright Miramax

When Bruce Willis appeared on the big screen recently with a pistol in his hand, you may have thought you were seeing a preview for Die Hard 4. Willis has been talking about the possibility of a fourth Die Hard film, but it's not happening quite yet. In the meantime, Willis fans will have to settle for Hostage. This action-packed thriller, directed by Florent Siri, features Willis in the role of Jeff Talley, a former LAPD hostage negotiator who comes back from a slump by attempting to rescue a family from some convenience store robbers who have taken them captive.

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